If found guilty, Vuong could be slapped with what the navy describes as a “severe reprimand.” The military first began looking into the case last fall after the Liberals cut ties with Vuong just days before the federal election. The party said Vuong, 33, had not told them about a sexual assault charge that was filed in 2019 and withdrawn later that year. Vuong denied wrongdoing and said the episode stemmed from a “fantasy claim.” On Wednesday, Vuong will appear before the deputy commander of the naval reserve, Capt. Etienne Landry, in Montreal to face a service charge under the National Defense Act for “conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.” Capt. Etienne Landry, deputy commandant of the naval reserve, will serve as the presiding officer during Kevin Vuong’s summary trial. (Twitter/NAVRESNAV) Lt. Robert Moore, a spokesman for the naval reserve, told CBC News that Vuong “has the right to admit to none, some or all of the details of the charge.” Members of the military must notify their commander if they are arrested by a civilian authority. Court documents show Vuong was charged in April 2019 in Toronto with a single count of sexual assault, which the Crown dropped six months later. “The defendant has elected to undergo a summary trial, and the Vice Commandant of the Naval Reserve (who will be the Presiding Officer) has elected to try the defendant himself in order to maintain transparency with the public and members of the Naval Reserve while pursuing justice with the most appropriate way,” Moore said in an email. Vuong, who holds the rank of lieutenant, was given the choice of a court-martial or summary trial, which is used in the military to deal with less serious offenses. Spadina-Fort York Independent MP Kevin Vuong stands up during question period Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Moore said that if Vuong is found guilty, his punishment could include a fine of up to 60 percent of his base monthly salary as a Navy reservist. He could also face a reprimand, or even a “severe reprimand.” “The punishments of a severe reprimand and a reprimand are intended to stand out as a blemish on the offender’s career record,” the Department of National Defense website states. Vuong told the CBC in an email earlier this year that he was “assisting the Navy’s investigation” through his lawyer. The only Independent MP in the House of Commons, Vuong represents the downtown Toronto riding of Spadina–Fort York. Although the Liberals sacked him last fall, the move came too late for the election. Ballot papers still listed him as the Liberal candidate. He once he said a voter who hoped to one day rejoin the Liberals, but Vuong appears to have switched to his former party since then. In recent weeks, he has criticized Ottawa’s immigration policies and he said on social media that Ontarians are being “picked up” by the Liberal government when they buy gas at the pumps.
